The finalists for the much-coveted Ladbrokes Orange Cup were locked in on Monday night at Bathurst’s Kennerson Park and based on preliminary times, Paul Braddon’s Falcon’s Fury demands favouritism leading into the deciding race next week.
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The almost three-year-old dog sped through his 520-metre heat to record the fastest time of the eight final qualifers, clocking 29.55 to edge out second-placed Joseph Satti’s Utah Miss in Bathurst earlier this week and narrowly miss out on Buck Fever’s track record of 29.47.
The win continued Falcon’s Fury’s stellar run of form, Monday’s victory was the fifth he’s recorded in his last 10 races – dating back to midway through 2017 – and the 23rd of his 36-start career.
The Michelle Sultana-trained Drink Schooners was the next fastest qualifier, he also won his heat but in the marginally slower time of 29.90. It was a victory that backed up his last-start win at Wentworth Park the week before.
Utah Miss (29.94) was actually the third quickest despite finishing second to Falcon’s Fury.
The trio will be joined in the final by Sky Wave (30.04), Zipping Beau (30.09), Corleone Kid (30.38), Tina’s Magic (30.34), Zipping Sally (30.34). Pam Braddon’s Spring Jazz finished third in the first heat, but having clocked 30.46 she just missed out.
The prestigious series is one steeped in history and is an event that the Bathurst Greyhound Racing Club holds every year to uphold the legacy of its Orange equivalent, which dissolved over a decade ago.
Monday’s twilight meeting will be held at Bathurst, in a meet that also includes the Julie Healey Memorial Final (450m).
Nominations close on Thursday.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
